Pietta 1858 Remington conversion

Broomhandle · January 29, 2015, 02:02:36 PM

I recently got a 44 cal Remington and a conversion cylinder (has a removable rear plate for loading). I normally use 8 gr of Unique behind a 250 gr LFN in my SAA. Would these cartridges be okay in the 1858. I size the cast bullets to.454.

tommy4toes · February 05, 2015, 07:13:29 PM

Broomhandle-

That should be fine. My SASS load is 8.0 Unique with a 250gr bullet, standard primer.

tommy4toes · February 06, 2015, 02:56:38 PM

Lately, I have been shooting 205gr bullets from Bear Creek Supply over 8.2 Unique - easier on the recoil.

Tommy4toes

Blair · February 06, 2015, 03:19:10 PM

Not sorry to say (in some circles), but I got away from using smokeless powders very early in my experience with shooting Cas/Was firearms.
Real BP has been my only choice for well over 20 years.
I also "never" give out info on any smokeless powders or any of what I call the "Science Fiction" powders I have ever used or tried!
That is what the powder manufactures manuals are for. And also why they pay the big bucks for Liability Insurance.
My best,
Blair

Shawnee McGrutt · February 06, 2015, 05:59:51 PM

An 1858 conversion using smokeless powder? That is just wrong!

Flint · February 09, 2015, 01:43:07 PM

Smokeless is fine, especially in a Remington, and if I intend to use black powder, I modify the frame and cylinder for a gas ring, as Remingtons don't cycle very many shote before freezing up...

Only convert a steel framed gun.

The lighter (200-205) bullet is better suited to the rate of twist in the cap & ball barrel, as it is designed for a round ball....

This revolver's gas ring was copied pretty much from the Ruger. I had to mill the frame to make room for it.

tommy4toes · February 10, 2015, 09:22:23 PM

I've got one I made in the 90's for sale if anybody's interested. Spare cylinder too, 5-shot.

Poodleshooter · February 19, 2015, 11:32:12 PM

I'll only mention to watch you OAL with the conversion cylinders. My first reloads for my late 90s era Pietta with a Taylors cylinder were 8grs of Unique and a 200gr LSW seated fairly deep with an FCD crimp. That seemed a significantly good reduction from the old standard 8grs of Unique/250gr RNFP load that many like in .45Colt.
A few cylinders full of my mere 200gr loading, and my loading lever retaining stud popped off.

I later chronographed the load at around 930fps...about 130fps faster than I expected. It might have just been a weak soldering job, but the Pietta now wears a Uberti style retainer stud with a hand filed dovetail to avoid the issue entirely. I've backed that load down some, too.